The annual celebration of art and culture will return for its 12th edition to Alserkal Avenue on 25 January.
Conversations, art installations, live music, creative energy, contemporary culture and more — it’s all set to come together as the annual Quoz Arts Fest returns for its 12th edition from 25 to 26 January, this time taking place at both Alserkal Avenue and the wider Quoz Creative Zone.
“Since its inception in 2012, Quoz Arts Fest has been a creative meeting ground for Dubai’s diverse communities — a place to come together and celebrate culture,” says Gilda Gilantash, Director of Events, Programming and Partnerships at Alserkal Avenue. “Over the years, it’s grown into a major regional attraction while staying deeply connected to the grassroots, homegrown scene. It’s also become a platform for international artists redefining what’s next, offering a glimpse into the next wave of creative talent. This year, we’re proud to offer our most expansive programme yet, with cultural expression at its widest and the community at its heart.”
Festival Headliners
At the forefront will be Syrian rapper, poet, and storyteller Omar Offendum, who gives a voice to the experiences of immigration. Tunisian singer and songwriter Emel Mathlouthi will also take the main stage, renowned for her soaring voice and fusion of traditional Arabic music with contemporary influences. Joining them will be the Tunisian alternative duo Ÿuma, composed of Sabrine Jenhani and Ramy Zoghlemi, whose minimalist folk sound offers an intimate, guitar-driven journey.
Elsewhere in the line-up is Musaafir Music, a collective of rising Pakistani artists known for their genre-defying experiments across multiple languages. Rounding out the performances will be London-based Indian musician Sarathy Korwar collaborating with poet and writer Zia Ahmed in a performance blending spoken word poetry with contemporary compositions, exploring themes of identity and belonging. The main stage will be hosted by Dubai’s own MC, Big Hass, bringing his signature energy to the festival.
Must-See Public Art
A standout highlight of the festival will be Forest Dancer and the Path to Pure Creation by Australia’s ENESS at Concrete. This immersive installation will blend light, sound, and movement to create a space that emulates the feeling of stepping into unhindered creative flow. Across the avenue will be Bright Memories by Abdulla Alneyadi featuring a series of public water dispensers, iconic to the UAE, designed by the artist and a surprise site-specific outdoor installation by Brazilian artist Zé Tepedino.
On the avenue’s corner facade, meanwhile, Emirati artist Lamya Gargash will present her large-scale commission — the enlarged photograph, A Corridor of Books. Renowned for her exploration of identity through both lived and abandoned spaces, Gargash turns to the private library of a prominent collector and patron of the arts in the UAE. At the heart of the photograph is a golden fabric draped through his library, guided by the ‘qibla’, a compass pointing towards prayer. The installation will invite a meditation on memory, devotion, and the stories woven into the spaces we inhabit.
Gallery Exhibitions
The avenue’s galleries and institutions will open an exciting line-up of exhibitions. At Ishara Art Foundation, Shilpa Gupta’s Lines of Flight takes centre stage, while Lawrie Shabibi presents a solo show by Farhad Ahrarnia. Over at The Third Line, Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere, a group show curated by Sanaz Askari, and Green Art Gallery showcases Citadelles of Today by Chaouki Choukini. Aisha Alabbar Gallery brings Superficial Transactions, a solo exhibition by Eman Al Hashemi, while Gulf Photo Plus The Life of an Itinerant through a Pinhole will present Behzad Khosravi Noori. 1×1 Art Gallery will present a solo show of Sohan Qadri, Custot Gallery features Photosynthetic Forms by Marc Quinn, and Zawyeh Gallery will highlight a solo exhibition by Amirhossein Bayani.
Stage 2.0
Throughout the weekend, Stage 2.0 will showcase Quoz Encore performances, now in its third year, providing a platform for emerging UAE-based artists and talent making their debut, alongside afikra conversations with artists.
Reel Palestine Film Festival
Cinema Akil will once again host Reel Palestine, a film festival celebrating Palestinian stories with screenings and a souk featuring crafts and flavours inspired by Palestinian traditions.
What The Food
The culinary experiences will be curated by What The Food by Alserkal, featuring everything from artisanal producers and food entrepreneurs to the city’s most loved chefs.
Starting at AED 63, tickets are now available via Platinumlist.
DSCVR: Quoz Arts Fest. Alserkal Avenue, 17th Street, Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, Dubai. @alserkalavenue
